Skip to content
BusinessesGrow
Blue Whale of Catoosa, Catoosa, OK

Photo: G. Edward Johnson, CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons. Cropped and resized.

SightseeingQuirky FunFamily FavoriteFree

Blue Whale of Catoosa

2600 N State Hwy 66 · Catoosa, OK

Why you should go…

Hugh Davis built this 80-foot-long, 20-foot-tall whale of iron and concrete on a pond beside Route 66 and unveiled it in 1972 as an anniversary gift for his wife Zelta, who collected whale figurines. You can walk into the whale, climb the small ladder to a hidden compartment in its head, fish the pond and use the picnic tables. The City of Catoosa bought the property in 2020 and opened a visitor center with a gift shop in May 2026.

  • #route 66
  • #roadside attraction
  • #photo stop
  • #picnic area

Good to know

General sightseeing guidance

Habits that pay off across this whole category, not rules for this one venue. Always check the official site for the specifics.

  • The forecast is part of the ticket

    Haze, low cloud, and rain flatten a view. Clear-day visits are worth rearranging your plans for.

  • Golden hour sells out first

    Sunset slots at observation decks and cruises are the first to go, so book those further ahead.

  • Dress a layer warmer

    It is always breezier up high and out on the water than it feels at street level.

  • Timed entry is common

    Plenty of landmarks release tickets in windows rather than at the door, so check before you walk over.

What's around here?

The closest stops to Blue Whale of Catoosa, ordered by straight-line distance. A few more like it, plus some different kinds of fun so you can build a full day.

  • Museums
    Family Favorite

    Tulsa Air and Space Museum

    Under $25

    Aerospace museum and planetarium next to Tulsa International Airport with vintage aircraft and NASA artifacts.

    9.1 mi awaySwitch it up: Museums

  • Attractions
    Family Favorite

    Tulsa Zoo

    Under $25

    124-acre zoo in Mohawk Park with state-of-the-art exhibits spanning the animal kingdom.

    9.8 mi awaySwitch it up: Attractions

  • Museums
    History Buff

    Will Rogers Memorial Museum

    Under $25

    Museum and tomb honoring humorist and entertainer Will Rogers, with 12 galleries of memorabilia.

    10 mi awaySwitch it up: Museums

  • Sightseeing
    Quirky Fun

    Golden Driller

    Free

    Stand at the feet of a 76-foot oil worker statue outside Tulsa's Expo Square, a photo stop near historic Route 66.

    12 mi awayMore like this

  • Sightseeing
    History Buff

    Claremore

    Free

    Tourism office for Claremore, Oklahoma, a Route 66 town and the birthplace of Will Rogers.

    14 mi awayMore like this

  • Sightseeing
    Local Gem

    Green Country

    Free

    Northeast Oklahoma's official tourism region, covering 18 counties of lakes, Route 66 towns and outdoor recreation.

    18 mi awayMore like this